Do you talk too much?
 

I remember years back reading a book called "How to win friends and influence people". One of the chapters stated to influence people( I used to sell mutual funds) you need to be a good listener. Do you think that you are a good listener? Do you think that you talk too much? When I meet somebody new and if they talk about themselves for five straight minutes, I say that I have got things to do. Do you catch yourself talking too much and then start asking the other person questions? Or do you think that you talk too much?

From the deleted scenes of Pulp Fiction... Do you listen or wait to talk?

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I talk a lot but I don't think too much. Well maybe if I feel passionate about something like film photography or jazz.
If they're listening then that's a good thing.

But maybe I should shut up more.

Do you talk too much?
 

no

My wifes family.

Terrible listeners.

Makes me crazy.

I listen more than i talk but living in an all female house (wife + 2 daughters) i'm pretty good at not listening too.

Well said.

My 17 year old daughter's old boyfriend told her she talked too much. That's why he is the old boyfriend.

So, you've met my wife I see.........And her kids....

I recently had my wife in my car for a 10 day 3,500 mile road trip in the 911. We regularly went for an hour or more without saying anything. After 20 years of marriage we know all the old stories and unless there is something to discuss we are quite happy to be quiet.

I can go talk to just about anyone but I have no desire to just blather on. It is easy to shut up.

I have a new theory.

You have heard that studies have been done and women speak more words a day then men. The old joke that the man has just used up his words for the day.

My new theory is that men also only listen to X number of words a day.

A good friend of mine has a wife will never allow a pause in the conversation. She will just ramble on about anything at all. I don't know how he keeps from strangling her.

And I have a friend who does that. He's really the one person I'm deliberately rude to, but he accepts it. W/O being rudely forceful, I'd never get a word in. Thing is, we share a lot of common interests or we wouldn't be friends.

Me, I talk too much when allowed. My theory is that I'm talking so I don't have to listen to drivel. Might as well be my own. I do listen when other's conversation gets good. I do listen when it's time to listen.

But, other than that, I talk. I highly respect people who don't talk a lot but say volumes.

Much less these days.

ok, where do i start...

I talk too much. I mean, it'd work better for me and everyone else if I talked infrequently. I do know the magic trick of asking people about themselves. Their favorite subject. And I've also heard the word we like best is.....our name.

so much for the female desire for "honesty" in a relationship!!!!:(

Huh, did you say something..?

Yes and no. I definitely talk too much at times and with friends but very little to everyone else. There are people who think that they know me and refer to me as "quiet". HA! Only around them...

It's the Irish curse. Or one of them. It's not a completely bad thing all the time, Irish people and Irish-Americans are known for being outgoing and friendly, fun at a party, etc... Being from MN., a very Scandinavian/German place, I definitely know the oposite. People who never say anything and seem like they really have nothing to say. Just reticent and reserved to the point of being really hard to get close to. There are some funny examples of the stereotype in "Fargo". People in Maine are actually suppose to be the most like this, it's hard to get 2 words out of them.

Obviously there is a balance. One needs to know when to shut up and listen.

Denis, there are all types. My GF, bless her heart, is purebred Norwegian. Rarely laughs at jokes. Communication is factual and purposeful. I think Norwegians regard Germans as being a bit frivolous.

Myself, I'm Irish too. Everything is funny. When stuff stops being funny, I know I'm losing my perspective.

Ya know, that is a beautiful thought. :)

_

Theres a guy at work that once he corners you about something, he will not shut up. Ive seen him ramble on with someone for 45 min NON STOP. You cant get a word in. Whoever the victim is just gets locked in a trance. The running joke when you cant find someone is, "Jim's probably got him cornered". Its sad. Everyone avoids him. Personally, I dont see how he can have so much to say. I couldnt pull it off.

I must have read the same or similar book. And I pretty much use the same criteria when I meet someone new.

I'm a great listener - it's mentioned all the time by friends and co-workers. I can come back with things mentioned in passing from years ago, which always startles people. I remember telling a co-worker when "Quigley Down Under" came out on DVD and her jaw dropped - she'd told me in passing about 5 years before that it was her husband's favorite movie. People want you to focus on them while they're talking, but they don't really expect you to pay attention to what they're saying.

This. I just spent ten days in beautiful Hawaii...with my wife, her sister and her mother. None of them just talk to make noise so that's good, but they ALL start talking when someone else is three syllables into their sentence. I have to sit in on too many conference calls. It's a peeve of mine. Let the first person finish then take your turn.

By day three I began every sentence with, "I'm talking now." At day five I switched to, "Shut up, I have the floor.".

They are good galls and roll with the punches but damn they won't shut up.

J

I definitely talk too much on this board.

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Ivana Humpalot is looking pretty good there...